July Decarpentrie

The recent US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran came as a highly unpleasant surprise for Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry put out a steady stream of statements on the situation in Iran, issuing daily criticism of Israel and the United States, while Vladimir Putin sent the Iranian president an unusually emotional telegram expressing condolences over the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

President Macron's speech this week set out how French nuclear forces might play a central role in a more autonomous European defence. By increasing the number of nuclear warheads and showing willingness to implement a 'forward deterrence' posture to European partners, Macron delivered a strong vision of a Europe ready to defend itself in face of uncertainty from the east and the west.